Malacañang Golf (MALAGO) Clubhouse, Malacañang Park, Manila
2 September 2020

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joined fellow world leaders and heads of international organizations in the Aqaba Process Virtual Meeting on COVID-19 Response hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on 2 September 2020 from 3:00 – 6:00 PM (Jordan time; Philippines is five [5] hours ahead of Jordan).

The meeting addressed the changing security landscape of the post-COVID-19 world, as well as the efforts being made to bolster resiliency as global communities continue to face threats from violent extremists and terrorists amidst the worldwide health crisis. The leaders had an exchange of views on strengthening international cooperation due to increased vulnerability of many nations to radicalization and violent extremism as a result of the pandemic.

Likewise, concerns on shifting food security, cyber environment, education and surge in unemployment rate were also discussed during the meeting.

The Aqaba Process is an initiative launched by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to enhance international security and military coordination among participants to effectively counter terrorism through informal discussions around three (3) key themes: Prevention, Coordination and “filling in the gaps”.

President Duterte was joined in the Philippine Official Delegation by Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go (Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., DFA Assistant Secretary Leslie Baja and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert Borje.

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